Women's Clothing Industry Market Research & Statistics
Global Women’s Clothing Industry The global women’s clothing industry is expected to exceed $621 billion in 2014, marking a 12% increase in five years, reports MarketLine. Clothing retailers account for the largest share of the market at almost 65% in terms of value. Major drivers of the world womenswear market include fashion, with shoppers eager to keep up with the latest trends, consumer confidence and rising income levels. As consumers made less purchases during the economic recession, retailers currently find themselves with a product surplus. Regional Markets The US womenswear industry was severely affected by the housing and economic crisis. Key Market Segments The world bridal wear industry is expected to reach almost $57 billion by 2015, according to Global Industry Analysts. Market Outlook Though the global womenswear industry is recovering following the economic recession, the retailing landscape continues to witness changes. Leading Industry Associations More »
Life Just got a lot Worse for People living in Gaza
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza just took a turn for the worse. As if life couldn’t get any worse for the millions of innocent civilians caught in the Israeli-Hamas conflict, an Israeli airstrike hit Gaza strip’s last functioning power plant yesterday. (pictured above) The only other sources of electricity residents in Gaza had access to — power lines coming from Israel — have been severed since fighting began weeks ago leaving only two of eight still functioning. According to the Washington Post, “The plant is Gaza’s primary source of electricity, powering sewage treatment systems, water pumps and hospitals, said Dardasawi, the Palestinian official. Regardless of how you feel about Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, it’s impossible to condone actions which cut power from hospitals and clean water from children. Twenty more innocent people were killed when Israel bombed a school on Wednesday, which the U.N. said violated international law.
The Problem with Society isn't Greed
Greed Is a Symptom of a Deep Need Going Unfulfilled A lot of people reacted to my comment on Facebook the other day that greed is more a symptom than a cause of our current system, with all its inequities. I’m asked, What is the cause of greed? First I’ll say what I think greed is: Greed is the insatiable desire for that which one doesn’t really need, or in amounts beyond one’s needs. When we are cut off from the fulfillment of our basic needs we seek out substitutes to temporarily ease the longing. Causes of separation The causes of our separation from all these things pervade every aspect of our culture. Do we have to just adapt to not having our needs met? Perhaps such an upbringing is necessary in our cultural context. Various aspects of our economic system reflect this programming. Decay Greed video by Sustainable Human A scarcity mentality When I describe the experience of early childhood, I don’t mean to simplistically blame greed on only that. I could name another hundred of these.
untitled
World needs to stabilise population and cut consumption, says Royal Society | Environment
World population will reach 9 billion by 2050. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images World population needs to be stabilised quickly and high consumption in rich countries rapidly reduced to avoid "a downward spiral of economic and environmental ills", warns a major report from the Royal Society. Contraception must be offered to all women who want it and consumption cut to reduce inequality, says the study published on Thursday, which was chaired by Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston. The assessment of humanity's prospects in the next 100 years, which has taken 21 months to complete, argues strongly that to achieve long and healthy lives for all 9 billion people expected to be living in 2050, the twin issues of population and consumption must be pushed to the top of political and economic agendas. "The number of people living on the planet has never been higher, their levels of consumption are unprecedented and vast changes are taking place in the environment.
untitled
Market Red Alert
I have never done anything like this before. Ever since I started The Economic Collapse Blog in late 2009, I have never issued any kind of “red alert” for any specific period of time. As an attorney, I was trained to be level-headed and to only come to conclusions that were warranted by the evidence. So this is not something that I am doing lightly. To clarify, when I say “imminent” I do not mean that it will happen within the next 48 hours. What I am attempting to communicate is that we are right at the door of a major turning point. This time around, I wish that I could visit the living rooms of all of my readers and explain to them why we are on the verge of another major financial crisis. Let’s start with a little discussion about the U.S. economy. Let me give you just one quick example. This is the kind of chart that you would expect from a very sick economy. If the stock market was connected to reality, it would be going down. For instance, just check out the chart posted below.
untitled
Why people are fleeing Syria: a brief, simple explanation
With the refugee crisis worsening as many Syrians attempt to flee to Europe, many people may find themselves wondering just how the war in that country got so bad, and why so many are fleeing now. Here, then, is a very brief history of the war, written so that anyone can understand it: Syria is a relatively new country: Its borders were constructed by European powers in the 1920s, mashing together several ethnic and religious groups. Since late 1970, a family from one of those smaller groups — the Assads, who are Shia Alawites — have ruled the country in a brutal dictatorship. Bashar al-Assad has been in power since 2000. This regime appeared stable, but when Arab Spring protests began in 2011, it turned out not to be. On March 18, Syrian security forces opened fire on peaceful protestors in the southern city of Deraa, killing three. Perhaps inevitably, Syrians took up arms to defend themselves. It worked. By 2014, Syria was divided between government, rebel, ISIS, and Kurdish forces.
